Greater Anglia Good and Bad Discussion

[TheEdge]

I was looking at that one a few days ago and did privately wonder how it managed to always stay so dirty compared to the rest. Well, now I have an answer.

 

[387star]

On a different line, how long has 3179013 been back in general service (batteries removed)? Used it this morning, it looked cleaner than the units it was sandwiched between and very odd without any logos on the side. It was also the wrong way round (1st at the country end).

During Greater Anglia's short franchise they decided to rebrand it Abellio Greater Anglia despite the short nature of the franchise... They removed the original greater anglia and stansted express branding with branding only on the front and rear coaches except the 379s which carry additional stansted express branding I'm guessing they never applied the new branding to the battery unit

 

[dk1]

I was looking at that one a few days ago and did privately wonder how it managed to always stay so dirty compared to the rest. Well, now I have an answer.

You only have to ask me mate, don't be shy. You could even get the AMTs in, or is it my round

 

[TheEdge]

You only have to ask me mate, don't be shy. You could even get the AMTs in, or is it my round

Its always your round! SWMBO has enforced spending limits on me!

 

[387star]

Why do abellio greater anglia class 321s have the branding on the first class end of a 321 on top of the grey on applicable units? ie the anglia part of the wording is hidden as it is grey on grey?

This is not a problem where the branding closest to the grey band reads abellio.. Into the white but where the wording is reversed at the grey end so the branding leads into the grey end rather than away from it

 

[jon0844]

With AGA being responsible for the upkeep of stations, it seems that many people on Twitter are now of the belief that AGA is in fact responsible for everything.

I saw a photo of a lineside signal box (or some cabinet) and a comment about how pathetic AGA is for not fixing it up as it was damaged.

I commented that I am pretty sure Network Rail is still responsible for the track, signals, wires etc - even if the information screens on platforms are now up to Abellio to maintain - and then got told that there are train operators that maintain all the infrastructure themselves; Heathrow Express.

Now, while it is indeed not bound by the NRCoC, I'd be quite amazed to hear that the airport operator is maintaining the tracks and wires itself, and how it would have the necessary equipment to do so in such a small area. As well as how it 'connects' to the rest of the railway.

Am I wrong, or are the anti AGA brigade getting somewhat carried away. No wonder they moan so much if they think that fallen overhead wires is actually down to AGA to fix.

Someone else is counting down the days to when Crossrail (yes, Crossrail) takes over and the old trains are sent back for being below standard. Yes, TfL is likely to reject the rolling stock that AGA has been inflicting on passengers. Can't wait to see that happen!!

 

[samuelmorris]

You can't place that particularly on the 'anti-AGA brigade' - it's common to all TOCs really - whether AGA get more of it than other operators and if so whether they deserve that or not is another matter, but those sorts of people are everywhere, and when I have anything to do with them I correct them, if not, leave it - there's just too many to respond to random tweets from people you don't know. If a company runs the trains, those not in the know assume they run the tracks.

Also, 'crossrail taking over' is not exactly a difficult mistake to make. TfL are taking over in a sense, and TfL will be running crossrail - just because it's wrong doesn't make people that think it's true complete idiots - they just need a little correction

 

[CockneySparrow]

Problem is that the TOC doesn't do themselves any favours, when the wires come down at Diss AGA will publish a message on the website saying "WE ARE SORRY" the announcements will be the same at the stations, now that's where some of the confusion comes from

 

[scott118]

Problem is that the TOC doesn't do themselves any favours, when the wires come down at Diss AGA will publish a message on the website saying "WE ARE SORRY" the announcements will be the same at the stations, now that's where some of the confusion comes from

I always found it odd, that they take responsibility, in today's world, of blame culture. It is indeed frowned upon, if you actually tell the truth, whether it be late running, or a lineside failure, as it can be perceived as deflecting blame to another 'operator'. Personally, i said it as it was, as i believed, most appreciated the honesty. At least it gave the twitter whores, something to type about during the disruption.

 

[alxndr]

Problem is that the TOC doesn't do themselves any favours, when the wires come down at Diss AGA will publish a message on the website saying "WE ARE SORRY" the announcements will be the same at the stations, now that's where some of the confusion comes from

That's not an AGA thing, other TOCs do the whole "we are sorry to announce..." as well. If they didn't say sorry they'd get backlash from people who don't understand that NR deal either the infrastructure are are separate. Can't really win on that one.

 

[321446]

I found the easiest thing to do was walk away from Twitter. The people who actually want to know real reasons for problems are so few and far between. Unfortunately they get swamped by those who sit secure in their anonymity and spout horrible bile at a corporate entity in the belief they will either make a difference by being obnoxious or who are just hateful individuals anyway.

As for the apology thang, we are told to do it on behalf of AGA. The company has a thick skin and a fat wallet so it doesn't really get upset by the flack, unless it's at customer survey time, when we all have to make that special effort. Personally I find it easier to try me best all year round, but I've never been good at office politics. Calling a spade an effin shovel on occasions doesn't always sit well, but it gets people's attention! Always do it professionally and politely tho.

 

[jon0844]

Some did say that Abellio was giving and walking away from running trains, which prompted me to ask for more details (as in shareholders might like to know the basis of such a suggestion) but I never got a reply. Funny that.

Clearly it would have been related to the parts being taken over by TfL, but some people obviously think that this means Abellio quit because it couldn't handle things.

And suggesting TfL will reject and send trains back as they're so unfit for purpose (Abellio's fault obviously) is very funny!

But you're right - just bite your lip. These idiots aren't seeking honest answers and explanations, especially if it shows them up as fools, so like politicians they just continue to repeat the same nonsense over and over until people start to think it might be true.

 

[Richard1960]

Lovely trip to the North Norfolk Coast yesterday though i have to praise customer service at Norwich.

Left Harlow Town at 13.02 train on time to get the 14.12 Cambridge Norwich train checked my app at whittlesford Parkway Abellio had cancelled the 14.12 cambridge Norwich train.

Plenty of people in the line at customer service at cambridge as the option of going via Stowmarket was not open as there was a bus service between Ipswich -Norwich no main line trains operating .

Cambridge got us on the cross country to Ely but due to a member of the public reporting animals on the line it arrived at Ely three minutes late and EMT would not hold their service to Norwich (despite Abellio asking if they could) another Hours wait at Ely thanks Mr Souter I raised a glass to EMT as did a few others.

Surely train operating companies could do better then this.

Abellio customer service at Norwich were great there i have said it.

But the accumalative effect was amazing after all i would have thought EMT could have made three minutes up even after waiting at Ely to Norwich.

Said to trhe lady on the phone i bet if Norwich City had a home match this train would have run or if not alternative arrangements would have ben put in place.!

 

[LAX54]

1412 cancelled due to unit failure on the depot at C. Point, had you caught the Kings Lynn train,(1435 Cambridge) this would have arrived at Ely at 1455 with a conenction into 1052 Liverpool - Norwich (1517) and Norwich at 1611.
Catching the Birningham train at Cambridge (1458) would have arrived Ely at 1514 with a connection again into the Lverpool (1517), but assume you ended up on the 1512 Cambridge arriving Norwich at 1629 rather than the planned 1530 ? Maybe AGA had thought that as it's only 20 mins between the EMT and AGA trains arrving at Norwich there was not too much of an issue ?

 

[Richard1960]

1412 cancelled due to unit failure on the depot at C. Point, had you caught the Kings Lynn train,(1435 Cambridge) this would have arrived at Ely at 1455 with a conenction into 1052 Liverpool - Norwich (1517) and Norwich at 1611.
Catching the Birningham train at Cambridge (1458) would have arrived Ely at 1514 with a connection again into the Lverpool (1517), but assume you ended up on the 1512 Cambridge arriving Norwich at 1629 rather than the planned 1530 ? Maybe AGA had thought that as it's only 20 mins between the EMT and AGA trains arrving at Norwich there was not too much of an issue ?

We were told by Abellios customer service at Cambridge to get the Cross country train to Ely around 14.00 so we could get the 14.16 EMT service to Norwich from Ely.

But it was late arriving at Ely three minutes and EMT would not hold their Norwich bound train so we had another hours wait at Ely and yes the next EMT train turned up before the next Abellio service at 15.16.

We relied on Customer Services at Cambridge for the best advice.,

I would respectfully suugest if your main line is closed (Norwich-Ipswich) then perhaps you should hire another unit just in case of failure on the one main line still open.

I noticed recently Abellio seem to be hiring a few DRS trains epsecially on the Lowestoft,Yarmouth routes there was one stinking Norwich out last Friday the 17.35 to Great Yarmouth .

 

[LAX54]

I agree, Anglia do seem very short of units, not sure why they cannot 'hire' some in at least short term maybe? I recall back in Anglia Railways days, when the Class 201 Thumper was based at Norwich and did the Yarmouth runs, I pretty sure that bought some extra revenue in ! Likewise when they had the Deltic and Class 50 'stored' and Crown Point and used for Tbird duties sometimes, bet that one of the few times the commuters, well some of them wished for their train to fail en route !

 

[Richard1960]

I agree, Anglia do seem very short of units, not sure why they cannot 'hire' some in at least short term maybe? I recall back in Anglia Railways days, when the Class 201 Thumper was based at Norwich and did the Yarmouth runs, I pretty sure that bought some extra revenue in ! Likewise when they had the Deltic and Class 50 'stored' and Crown Point and used for Tbird duties sometimes, bet that one of the few times the commuters, well some of them wished for their train to fail en route !

Yes you are right not wanting to get anybody into trouble so no names i was told yesterday the problem is there is no spare capacity at Abellio so if anything breaks down thats it.

But i cannot praise the ground staff more customer services were great and tried to do all they could.

So its not all bad news thanks to customer service at Norwich and Cambridge who done their best,and also at Ely the guy there looked stuff up for me on his PC which he need not have done.

Memo to managers however must do better i mean the top managers obviously not the lower grades.

 

[CockneySparrow]

AGA have something like 26 units to cover 23 diagrams or something like that, with regards to the DRS slam door service to Lowestoft and Yarmouth these I recall is a set diagram for the short set,

There was always a short set waiting for the call even in NXEA days with DRS locos and a couple of carriages from the NRW-LST stock, this set always did the 17:35 NRW-GYM whatever but was also used on the same route when there was a shortage of units

Since last year AGA has even hired the carriages from DRS I believe although there has been problems and now the 47s are being replaced by 37s,

 

[jopsuk]

from my limited observations they seem to be getting more consistent at ensuring the Cambridge-Ipswich service is a turbostar (think there's a 156 diagram nightly and possibly a 153 weekly?); there was a patch where it was common to see that the service was being "supplemented" by a bus. A sign Crown Point is improving? The problems there certainly pre-date Abellio

 

[samuelmorris]

I find the concept of Abellio walking away from running train services rather unlikely if they've only just taken over at Scotrail... I imagine that's once again as you surmise, people getting the wrong end of the stick and assuming that because the TfL Rail services are taking over, that all of AGA is going elsewhere...

 

[jon0844]

There seem to be lots of people that believe AGA is walking way, while I'm sure others will be thinking AGA were stripped of the services. Both sound good, for different reasons.

It's quite amazing how many people know so little, but I suspect it's because there are two VERY active Twitter accounts (delayed again and later anglia, plus possibly more) that seem quite happy to re-tweet and engage with these people without making any attempt to correct them, as the more negative people are the better. In fact, I do sometimes think that the people running these accounts/sites are also rather devoid of facts a lot of the time.

AGA keep pretty quiet when these people rant and lie, and while it might make sense not to get caught up in what appears at times to be trolling (surely they can't really be that ignorant?), it just fuels the 'they're too scared to answer' comments.

As a case in point, there was someone who moaned about screens not working at Romford a couple of weeks ago and didn't get a response because it was just an anti-AGA rant, not a question about whether the screens were going to be fixed or not.

I therefore thought I'd ask in a more polite manner, and got a response straight away saying 'as soon as possible'. I asked for more clarification on their definition of 'soon', which ultimately got me another Tweet later giving an estimated date, and then one to say they were being done. What a difference, and I don't even use Romford station!

Now, as it turns out, someone today has said a screen still isn't working and is moaning again but I assume that means the platform ones have been fixed/replaced. One screen that might still be fixed in a day or two isn't justification for the abuse that is sent to AGA as a result.

 

[Richard1960]

Luckily i do not do twitter at all.

But have emailed GA today about my lovely trip to North Norfolk Saturday.

One line closed (Norwich-Ipswich) the other Cambridge -Norwich cancelling trains.

Not entirely GAs complete fault if you have read my earlier postings just surprises me that when one main line is closed,they do not hire an extra set to keep the other open at least without cancellations.

The funny bit was though i have the GA Rainbow Board on my I Phone when i looked at it it had green for every station (Good Service) no colours for amendments were on there at all.

 

[LAX54]

Luckily i do not do twitter at all.

But have emailed GA today about my lovely trip to North Norfolk Saturday.

One line closed (Norwich-Ipswich) the other Cambridge -Norwich cancelling trains.

Not entirely GAs complete fault if you have read my earlier postings just surprises me that when one main line is closed,they do not hire an extra set to keep the other open at least without cancellations.

The funny bit was though i have the GA Rainbow Board on my I Phone when i looked at it it had green for every station (Good Service) no colours for amendments were on there at all.

Good in theory, but I assume you cannot hire a set 'short notice' ? I dont know, but where would you keep it? Norwich? but if the failure is Cambridge, then it's quicker to wait for the next booked service, keep it at Cambridge, same applies if there is a failure at Norwich ! A 'spare' set is fine if its at the location of the failure, or very close, but failing that, it's quicker to get the next train.

 

[Richard1960]

Good in theory, but I assume you cannot hire a set 'short notice' ? I dont know, but where would you keep it? Norwich? but if the failure is Cambridge, then it's quicker to wait for the next booked service, keep it at Cambridge, same applies if there is a failure at Norwich ! A 'spare' set is fine if its at the location of the failure, or very close, but failing that, it's quicker to get the next train.

No i fully understand but when you are doing an afternoon trip to the North Norfolk Coast expecting to be there at at ex time an hour later is time lost.

Also we were told at Cambridge as i am sure you have read my post already to get on the 14.00 service to Ely (Cross Country) which arrived three minutes late at Ely, but EMT would not hold their 14.16 service pi-- poor i thought which meant a nice hour on Ely station before the next EMT train to Norwich.

There is plenty of spare track i see at Crown Point as we float past and one track they do not use at Norwich next to platform 6 so there must be a place to put spare capacity on some line even at Cambridge so if a unit broke down the complete service would not be lost at least.Would not have been so bad had Stowmarket been an option.


Especially if your main Line is closed for the weekend.

The rainbow boards were funny though showing a "Good Service" on all lines.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Interesting call from Abellio after i called EMT they wanted in writing from Abellio who declined the request to hold the 14.16 from Ely to Norwich.Seeing as Abellio could not provide a service either on the main line or Ely to Cambridge at that time.

Abellio said they phoned EMT and they should not have asked for this info but will phone me shortly to investigate that was 40 mins ago.

 

[jopsuk]

you're suggesting they have two units on standby to cover for a service that uses what, three or four units?

 

[Richard1960]

you're suggesting they have two units on standby to cover for a service that uses what, three or four units?

Not suggesting anything other then one of their lines was closed and the other had no spare capacity pi-- poor if you ask me as a paying customer.

The fact EMT would not play ball either merely peed a lot of us off both at Ely and Cambridge one young girl got her dad to pick her up .

Still lets not let customers get in the way EH.

 

[TheEdge]

There is plenty of spare track i see at Crown Point as we float past and one track they do not use at Norwich next to platform 6 so there must be a place to put spare capacity on some line even at Cambridge so if a unit broke down the complete service would not be lost at least.Would not have been so bad had Stowmarket been an option.

Not entirely true, when stuff is tucked up at CP there is very little space in the sidings. One of the "empty" lines is the Wensum Curve which cannot be used as a siding as various services use it in the day, ECS workings and the Walsham tanks. The few remaining sidings are probably not fit for use looking at their condition. The sidings behind 6 are also all used throughout the day although tend to be busier in the morning and evening.

That are there is a DMU shortage, both at GA and nationally so spare units are not just hanging around.

 

[Richard1960]

Not entirely true, when stuff is tucked up at CP there is very little space in the sidings. One of the "empty" lines is the Wensum Curve which cannot be used as a siding as various services use it in the day, ECS workings and the Walsham tanks. The few remaining sidings are probably not fit for use looking at their condition. The sidings behind 6 are also all used throughout the day although tend to be busier in the morning and evening.

That are there is a DMU shortage, both at GA and nationally so spare units are not just hanging around.

No they are not but when a main line is closed all weekend you would expect better co-opration between two companies operating the one line still open.

IE East Midlands and Greater Anglia.

There are lots of lines i see grassed over at Crown Point they could open them up for spare capacity or open up the line next to platform 6 at Norwich that seems to be empty most times i am there.

Pi-- poor service over the weekend however i have a 1st class ticket to travel up Thursday i hope GA can provide a better serivce then.

Then Saturdays was.

 

[transportphoto]

There are lots of lines i see grassed over at Crown Point they could open them up for spare capacity or open up the line next to platform 6 at Norwich that seems to be empty most times i am there.

It is all well and good having spare track, but where are you going to get the trains to put on them from? We've discussed this over and over on this forum, there aren't any trains sitting around spare to use.

TP

 

[306024]

No they are not but when a main line is closed all weekend you would expect better co-opration between two companies operating the one line still open.

IE East Midlands and Greater Anglia.

There are lots of lines i see grassed over at Crown Point they could open them up for spare capacity or open up the line next to platform 6 at Norwich that seems to be empty most times i am there.

Pi-- poor service over the weekend however i have a 1st class ticket to travel up Thursday i hope GA can provide a better serivce then

There always looks spare room at all sorts of places, until you go there at 03.00, then you'll see what is and isn't used.

You were obviously unfortunate that the 14.12 CBG - NRW was cancelled, and under those circumstances it is particularly poor the East Midlands train wasn't held at Ely for a few minutes, especially given the generous timings from Thetford to Norwich.

Unfortunately advocating additional spare units, bringing more track into use etc, are gold plated insurance policies that are simply unaffordable in today's railway. Sorry, harsh but true.

I found the easiest thing to do was walk away from Twitter. The people who actually want to know real reasons for problems are so few and far between. Unfortunately they get swamped by those who sit secure in their anonymity and spout horrible bile at a corporate entity in the belief they will either make a difference by being obnoxious or who are just hateful individuals anyway.

Very true. Various managers in the past have attempted to be reasonable with these people, but it makes no difference, they are not interested in rational discussion or explanation. The more you try the worse they get generally.